Method of manufacture of a chromogenic panel

Abstract

An improved method of manufacture of a chromogenic panel (10) includes the steps of securing a chromogenic matrix (20) between conductive surfaces (14, 18) of first and second substrates (12, 16) to form a chromogenic film (23); applying a partial vacuum through a plurality of throughbores (28) in a flat cutting surface (24) to secure the film (23) to the cutting surface (24); and using a laser beam (40) to cut a perimeter edge (22), bus-bar cut-outs (54, 62), or an image field line (75) within the substrates (12, 16) to form and manufacture the chromogenic panel (10). The partial vacuum applied through the flat cutting surface (24) provides for an exceptionally flat cutting surface of the panel (10) to facilitate precise focus and cutting by the laser beam (40).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 546,496 that was filed on Feb. 20, 2004, entitled “Method of Manufacture of a Chromogenic Panel”.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to chromogenic panels that provide varying optical properties in response to varying electrical signals, and especially relates to an improved method of manufacture of a chromogenic panel. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Chromogenic panels are well known for providing varying optical properties in response to varying electrical or other signals, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,390 that issued on Mar. 21, 2000 for a “Chromogenic Window Assembly Construction and Other Chromogenic Devices”. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical chromogenic panel generally designated by the reference numeral 10 includes a first substrate 12 having a first electrically conductive surface 14, a second substrate 16 having a second...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The invention is a method of manufacturing a chromogenic panel including the steps of securing at least one chromogenic matrix layer between a first electrically conductive surface of a first substrate and a second electrically conductive surface of a second substrate to form a chromogenic film. Next, a partial vacuum is applied through a plurality of throughbores defined within a flat cutting surface to secure the chromogenic film to the flat cutting surface. A laser beam is applied to cut a perime

Problems solved by technology

The laser beam is applied using only enough energy to cut through the substrates and their adjacent conductive surfaces but not

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